Supply package for stapling machines



7 SUPPLY PACKAGE FOR STAPLING MACHINES Filed Feb. 19, 1938 2 Shets-Sheet' 1 INVENTOR Ju e 6, 1939. c. l. TAGER 2,161,540

SUPPLY PACKAGE FOR STAPLING MACHINES Filed Feb. 19, 1958 2 Shets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTO Y Patented June 6, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SUPPLY PACKAGE FOR STAPLING MACHINES for it to unwind from the spool when left to itself.

To avoid this, and to provide a braking action 1 on the spool to prevent overrunning when the wire is drawn from the spool, it has been the custom to provide on the supporting bracket for the spool a suitable brake shoe, usually in the form of a piece offelt mounted on a flat spring and engaging the portion of the wire remaining on the spool.

As heretofore made, the spool was .provided with an axle extending through bearing holes in a bracket, which, in turn; was mounted in the desired place on the stapling machine.

An object of the present invention is to avoid the necessity of using this brake shoe on the 'wire, and to provide a package in which the spool rotates on the end flanges thereof rather than on an axle, for, when this is done, the friction between the flanges and the bearing surfaces on which they ride is such as to provide for controlled retarded rotation of the spool as the wire is being drawn ofi.

To prevent the wire from unwinding from the spool of itself, during shipment and just before the wire is inserted in the stapling machine, the package of the present invention is so made as to completely enclose the space between the end flanges of the spool, except for a Wire passage opening provided to permit egress of the wire in its use. 4

In one form' of the invention, this is accomplished by'forming a strap with downturned the strap may be extended downwardly to close 1 the end of the machine and render inaccessible the leading end of the wire, so long as the package is in the machine.

In another embodiment of this invention,-the package is so formedas to completely enclose. the spool and render the same inaccessible to finger-engagement either before or during its use in the stapling machine.

In this form of the invention, the enclosing casing is preferably made of two formed halves telescoping with each other and provided with means for mounting the casing with the spool in the stapling machine. This mounting means may be formed integral with a strap partly surrounding the casing and having at its lower end an extension to reach down and close the rear end of the stapling machine.

\ One or both of the parts of the casing are provided with slots through which the leading end of the wire passes.

One of the important features of this invention is the provision of the tab on the lower end of the package in such a way that it fits into an existing slot in the machine and holds the package against swinging outwardly of the machine when the machine is turned over,- and also stops movement of the package in wiredrawing direction.

Besides the friction tending to resist rotation of the spool and existing between the periphery of the end flanges thereof and the mounting means for the spool, the resiliency of the wire on the spool tends to expand it against the casing,

' and thus places an additional drag on the wire to the end that the spool will not rotate so freely as to cause an unwanted quantity of the wire to be paid off. v

The mounting lugs for the package are so placed that the center of gravity of the spool is offset to the rear of the vertical plane irl which the mounting lugs are located, so that there is a constant tendency for the spool to swing toward the machine, that is, in direction of wire withdrawal, thereby keeping the tab on the package against the end of the stapling machine even 4r should its end portion not be located in the slot in the machine.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings, which show several forms of my invention- Figure 1 is a side view of a stapling machine, partly in section, showing a package made according to the present invention in place thereon.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the package shown in Fig. 1, with portions of the casing and spool broken away to show the wire.

Fig. 3 is an end view of the pa ckage shown in Fig. 2, partly in section, and looking at the side of the package facing the machine.

Fig. 4 is an end view of the machine shown in Fig. 1, with the package in place thereon.

Fig. 5 shows another form of the present invention and is an end view of the package, looking at the same from the side thereof which faces the machine.

Fig. 6 is a side view of the package shown in Fig. 5, with one side of the casing removed.

Fig. 7 is a vertical section through the package, taken on the line '!-'I of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is an exploded view, showing, in per- 7 spective, the spool, the two portions of the casing, and the supporting strap or the device shown in Fig. 5.

Fig.9 is a side view of the package of the present invention, showing a modification of the package shown in Figs. 5 to 8, inclusive.

Fig. 10 is a side view oi. the package of the present invention, showing an auxiliary brake.

The staple wire supply package oi this invention may be constructed to flt into any stapling device taking wire from a spool and forming it into staples.

In the accompanying drawings, a conventional stapling machine is illustrated in Figs. 1 and 4. Such machines usually comprise a base l0 having a staple-clinching anvil ll, an upper portion l2 pivoted at l3 and held raised by a spring l4 so that a group of things, such as paper sheets, may be placed over the anvil to receive a staple.

The upper portion i2 of the machine contains mechanism collectively indicated by the reference numeral l5 fgr guiding and feeding a staple-making wire, and for forming the staple, cutting it ofl and driving the staple through the work and against the anvil II. This mechanism includes a lever 13 pivoted at i1 to operate between side plates l8 of the upper portion l2 against the tension of a spring "5a which causes the upper portion to be pressed against the work before the lever rocks on its pivot to operate the mechanism IS.

The side plates l8 at the rear of the machine have extensions l9 spaced to receive between position on the machine. Access to the slots 20 is obtained through narrow entrance slots 2i so that the lugs may be passed through the slots 2i edgewise and then into the slots 20 where they will lie crosswise of the slots 2| and be thereby prevented from accidentally falling out of the slots. i

Heretofore, the spool was provided with an axle journaled in a bracket having the mounting lugs above referred to and a wire-retaining device and brake was carried by the bracket so as to keep the relatively stiflf but resilient wire from v unwinding and to retard rotation of'the spool and prevent overrunning thereof when the wire is paidofl' in staple-making sections. I

With the supply package heretofore furnished,

there was ever present the danger of the wire becoming snarled either by improper rewinding after an unwanted quantity had been paid oil! before inserting the package in the machine, or by persons tampering with the wire on the spool. Besides, the bare spool of wire did not enhance the appearance of the machine.

According to the present invention, instead of providing the spool with an axle and journaiing the latter in a bracket, the spool of wire is provided without an axle and a supporting structure is provided, whereby the end flanges of the spool ride in annular tracks in the bracket, the frictional engagement of the periphery of the end flanges with the annular tracks retarding rotation of the spool so that overrunning is prevented.

In. the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4, the spool 22, which may be of any suitable construction, has a core 23 on which is wound a determined quantity of continuous staple-making wire 24. The spool 22 has end flanges 25 secured to the core.

Encircling the spool 22 and the wire carried thereby is a casing 26 comprising a strip of metal 21 having intumed flanges 28 at opposite sides so spaced that the end flanges of the spool 25 will freely fit between them..

The strip 21 is initially formed so that the diameter of the casing across the inner edges of the flanges 28 is greater than the diameter of the end flanges of the spool of wire, and, while in this condition, the spool is inserted between the flanges 28. Then the ends 29 and 30 of the portion of the strip- 21 encircling the spool are brought together until the inside diameter of the casing is just slightly greater than the diameter of the end flanges 25 of the spool thereby providing an annular bearing within which the spool may rotate and have very slight, if any, bodily movement. The ends 29 and 30 are then secured together in any suitable way. In the form shown, the end 29 is provided with a'pair of ears 3| extending through slots 32 in the end 30 and bent backward to form hooks preventing the separation or spreading of the ends 29 and 30.

The casing 26 is provided with an opening 33 in its lower portion through which the leading end; of the wire 24 extends and passes to the mechanism I 5 of the machine.

The casing 26 is provided with suitable mounting lugs 34 at opposite sides for engagement with the mounting slots 22 and 2| of the extensions I!- of the frame of the machine. The lugs 34 may be provided on the casing in any suitable way, but, preferably, are formed on a piece 35 separate from but secured to the casing as by spot welding so that the annular intumed flanges 23 may be continuous and have no breaks through which a loop of the wire might escape. For the same reason, the ends. of the flanges at the ends 28 and 30 of the spool-encircling part of the casing, are caused to abut when the casing is in fln shed shape.

With the spool of wire so encircled by the casing 26, the spool may rotate smoothly on the annular track formed by the inner surfaces of the strip 21 adjacent the flanges 28, yet the iriction produced by the periphery of the end flanges on the strip retards rotation of the spool to such,

an extent as to prevent overrunning as a result of the feed mechanism of the machine pulling off a staple-length of wire. As' the wire on the spool is consumed and the danger of overrunning de- -momentum when the spool is rapidly rotated by creases, the pressure of the end flanges 25 on the strip 21 also decreases, thereby reducing the retarding friction in proportion to the decreased tendency to overrun.

As will be seen from Fig. 4, the package of this invention fills substantially the space between the extensions l9 and the casing proper conceals the wire on the spool and most of the operating mechanism I5.

To further conceal the wire and the operating 'mechanism and to control the position of the of gravity which acts to so swing the package,

because the mounting lugs are offset forwardly of the center of gravity of the package.

With the package so supported, even with the leading end of the wire held by the mechanism I5, a forceful bodily swinging movement of the entire machine, which is not necessary or contemplated, might cause the package to pivot on the lugs 34 and. swing away from the rear end of the machine and undesirably unwind a quantity of wire from the spool. ,To avoid this,-the tab 36 is extended downwardly until it lies in a narrow space 31 between a portion 38 of the base and a portion 39 on the side plates l8. With the tab 36 so located, no substantial swinging movement of the package relative to the extensions IQ of the frame is permitted until the package isbodily lifted straight up, as allowed by the slots 20, and the tab removed from the space 31. 4

If the spool should overrun to the extent that the outer convolutions of the wire on the spool are loose, the pressure of the springy wire against the inside of the strip 21 of the casing will retard the advancing movement of the wire suflicient to maintain the surplus unwound portion of the wire within the casing.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 5 to 8, inclusive, the spool is completely enclosed by the casing, rather thanonly partially enclosed as in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive. For this purpose, the casing is made of two telescoping parts 40 and 4| having their ends 42 closed.

The casing is preferably made so that its interior is smooth and continuous, with no projections or crevices on which and within which the wire from the spool might be caught. For this purpose, the part 40 of the casing is provided with an enlarged annular portion 43 within which snugly fits the inner margin 44 of the part 4|.

The two halves of the casing may be secured together in any suitable way either temporarily or permanently, but, for convenience in assembling the package, one half of the casing is provided with a series of holes 45 while the other half is provided with a series of catches 46 to engage the holes 45.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated, the holes 45 are provided in the part 4| while the catches are provided in the part 40, and the catches are formed by lancing the material and pressing the material adjacent the slit downwardly. When the casing is assembled, the parts yield sufficiently for the catches 46 to ride over the material between the holes 45 and the inner edge of the part 4| until the catches snap into the holes.

Before the parts 4| and 42 are assembled, a spool of wire 41 is placed between the two halves of the casing'with the leading end of the wire 48 extending through a wire passage 49 formed by aligned notches 50 in the two halves of the casing.

To support the package in the stapling machine, a separate piece having mounting lugs 34 may be secured to the casing in any suitableway, as by spot welding, and, with this construction of the device, it is preferable that the piece carrying the lugs 34 be spot welded to the part 40 of the casing so that the weldingmay be done before the spool of wire is inserted in the casing.

If it is desired to provide an extension on the package like the tab 36 in the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, then it is preferable to provide a strip 5| partially surrounding the casing members 40 and 4|, and having formed integral therewith at one end the mountinglugs 34. The strap is formed with a central embossed portion 52 to fit over the enlarged portion 43 of the casing, and has at its lower end a tab 53 extending downwardly and covering the lower rear part of the stapling machine and concealing the leading end of the wire from view.

The central portion of the lower extremity of the tab 53 may be cutout, leaving ears 54 adapted to extend in the space 31, just as does the end of the tab 36 in the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 4, to limit the movement of the package relative to the frame of the machine.

The casing made up of the parts 40 and 4| may receive any suitable form of spool, such, for instance, as the spool shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

This spool may be of different construction, however, and, in the form of the invention shown in Figs. 5 to 8, inclusive, the spool comprises a sheet metal core 55 having ears 56 extending through slots 51 in the end flanges 58 of the spool and bent over' the outside surfaces of the end flanges to lock the core and the end flanges together.

In order that the end walls 42 of the casing parts may be located close to the end flanges of the spool and yet have the ears 56 extend through and lie on the outside surface of the end flanges, the end walls 42 of the casing are provided with recesses 53 clearing the ears 56.

To avoid the ears 56 contacting with the end walls 42, the central portions of the end flanges are provided with bosses to engage the recess portions 59 of the casing and present a smooth surface to these portions to limit lateral movement of the spool within the casing.

The bosses 60 are provided with central apertures 6| which may receive a supporting or driving shaft when the wire is wound upon the spool in the course of manufacture of the package.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 5 to 8, inclusive, the inside surface of the casing forms annular tracks for the end flanges of the spool, and it is on these tracks that the spool rotates with sufflcient retarding action to prevent overrunning just as in the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive.

In Fig. 9 there is shown the same form of device as shown in Figs. -5 to 8, inclusive, except that the end walls 42 of the casing are provided with openings 42a through which the spool may be grasped when it is desired to turn the spool to wind off a quantity of wire, or to wind the wire back on the spool, as when preparing to initially thread the wire in the machine.

In Fig. 10 there is shown a modified form of the device in which an additional brake means is provided for retarding rotation of the spool and to prevent overrunning thereof as well as to prevent the wire from unwinding from the spool.

In the preferred form as shown by Fig. 10, the brake comprises a tensioned spring arm 82 having an end thereof secured to thecasing in any suitable way, as by spot welding. The arm is so positioned that the free end thereof resiliently engages the outer convolutions of the wire on the spool and offers frictional resistance to the rotation of the spool. To provide a more effective brake, and to prevent unwinding of the wire on the spool should the same be broken, a pad 63 of some suitable material, such as felt or the like, is secured to the end of the arm engaging the outer convolutions of the wire. The springarm resiliently urges the pad against the outer conwithstanding.

The modified form of the brake, as shown by Fig. 10, although it has been illustrated in conjunction with the form of the'invention disclosed in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, is not intended to be used with that form of the invention exclusively as it can be used with the form of the invention shown by Figs. 5 to 9 inclusive, equally as well.

Variations and modiflcations may be made within the scope of this invention and portions of,

the improvements may be used without others.

I claim:

l. A supply package for stapling machines comprising a spool having a core and end flanges; a quantity of continuous staple-making wire wound on the spool; a mounting for said spool comprising means encircling the spool and having bearing surfaces engaged by the periphery of said spool flanges to support the spool for rotation incident to withdrawal of the wire from the spoohand means adapted to engage portions of a stapling machine for supporting the package in operative position thereon. a wire-passage opening being provided between the sides of said spool-encircling means.

2. A supply package for a stapling machine comprising a -spool having a core and lateral flanges; a quantity of continuous staple-making wire wound on the spool; a casing enclosing said I spool, said flanges supporting said spool within. the casing whereby the spool may be rotated incident to withdrawal of the wire from the spool;

and means adapted to engage the portions of the stapling machine for supporting'a package in operative position thereon, said casing having a wire-passage opening therein.

8. A supply package for stapling machines comprising a spool having a core and end flanges; a quantity of continuous staple-making wire wound on the spool; a mounting for said spool comprising interconnected annular tracks engaged by the periphery of said spool flanges to support the spool for rotation incident to withdrawal of the wire from the spool; and means adapted to engage portions of a stapling machine to support the package in operative position thereon, a wirepassage opening being provided between said interconnected annular tracks.

- 4. A supply package for stapling machines comprising a spool having a core and end flanges; a I

quantity of continuous staple-making wire wound on the spool; a mounting for said spool combetween the periphery of the flanges and said encircling means incidentally retarding the rotation of the spool as the wire is withdrawn therefrom; and means adapted to engage portions of astapling machine for supporting the package in operative position thereon, a wire-passage opening being provided between the sides of said spool-encircling means.

5. A supply package for stapling machines comprising a spool having a core and end flanges; a quantity of continuous staple-making wire wound on the spool; means adapted to engage the upper rear portions of the stapling machine for supporting the package in pendant operative position between side plates of the machine; and rigid means carried by the spool-supporting means for covering at least the rear portion of the spool to render the spool and the wire carried thereby inaccessible to finger-engagement when the spool is in operative position on the machine, said means projecting downwardly and adapted to engage the machine to limit the movement of the spool and said supporting means relative to the'rnachine.

6. A supply package for stapling machines comprising a spool having a core and end flanges; a quantity of continuous staple-making wire wound on the spool; means adapted to engage the upper rear portions of the stapling machine for supporting the package in pendant operative position between side plates or the machine; and rigid means carried by the spool-supporting means and projecting downwardly and terminating in a tab disposed substantially opposite said supporting means and adapted to engage the machine to prevent the movement of the spool and said spool-supporting means relative to the machine thereon, a wire-passage opening being providedin the casing between the sides of said spoolencircling means.

' 8. ,A supply package for stapling machines comprising a spool having a core and end flanges; a

quantity of continuous staple-making wire wound on the spool; a mounting for the spool comprising a casing completely encircling the end f anges of the spool'and. the space between them and having bearing surfaces engaged by the spool flanges to support the spool for rotation incident 'to withdrawal of the wire from the spool; and

means. carried. by the casing to engage portions of a stapling'machine fol-supporting the package in operative position thereon, a wire passage being provided in the casing between the sides ofthe spool-encircling 9. A supply packaae for stapling machines comprising a spool having a core and end flanges; a

quantity of continuous staple-making wire wound on the spool; a mounting for said spool comprising a two-part telescopic casing encircling the spool and having bearing surfaces engaged by said spool flanges to support the spool, for rotation incident to withdrawalof the wire from the spool; and, means carried by the casing adapted to engage the upper rear portion of the stapling machine frame for supporting the package in a pendant operative position in the frame, a wire passage being formed in the casing between the sides of the spool-encircling means, said spoolmounting means having a depending tab adapted to extend into a slot in the lower rear portion of the stapling machine to hold the casing and spool .against substantial swinging movement.

10. A supply package for stapling machines comprising a spool having a core and end flanges; a quantity of continuous staple-making wire wound on the spool; a two-part telescopic casing in which the spool is mounted, said casing having bearing surfaces engaged by the spool flanges v to support the spool for rotation incident to withdrawal of the wire from the spool; means carried by said two-part casing for detachablysecuring the two parts thereof together; and a .strip of metal secured to the casing, and havin which the spool is mounted, said casing having bearing surfaces engaged by the spool flanges to support the spool for rotation incident to withdrawal of the wire from the spool; means carried by said two-part casing for detachably securing the two parts thereof together; and a strip of metal secured to the casing, and having laterally extending lugs adapted to engage the upper rear portions of the stapling machine frame for supporting the package in the frame in pendant operative position therein, said casing having a wire passage for the leading end of the wire, and said strip having a depending portion covering and making inaccessible the leading end of the wire when the package is in operative position on the stapling machine frame.

12. A supply package for stapling machines comprising a spool having a core and end flanges; a quantity of continuous staple-making wire wound on the spool; a two-part telescopic casing inwhich the spool is mounted, said casing having bearing surfaces-engaged by the spool flanges to support the spool for rotation incident to withdrawal of the wire from the spool; means carried by said two-part casing for-detachably securing the two parts thereof together; and a strip of metal secured to the casing, and having laterally extending lugs adapted to engage the 'upper rear portions of the stapling machine frame for supporting the package in the frame in pendant operative position therein, said casing having a wire passage for the leading end of the wire, and said strip having a depending portion adapted to extend into a slot in the base of a stapling machine to hold the package against substantial swinging movement on said lugs when the package is in operative position on the stapling machine.

13. A supply package for stapling machines comprising a spool having a core and end flanges; a quantity of continuous staple-making wire wound on the spool; a'two-part telescopic casing in which the spool is mounted, said casing having bearing surfaces engaged by the spool flanges to support the spool for rotation incident to withdrawal of the wire from the spool; means carried by said two-part casing for detachably securing the two parts thereof together; and a strip of metal secured to the casing, and having laterally extending lugs adapted to engage the upper rear portions of the-stapling machine frame for supporting the package in the frame in pendant operative position therein, said casing having a wire passage for'the leading end of the wire, and said strip having 9. depending portion covering and making inaccessible the leading end of the wire when the package is in operative position on the stapling machine frame, said depending portion terminating in a tab adapted to extend into -a slot in the base of a stapling machine to hold the package against substantial swinging movement on said lugs when the package is in operative position on the stapling machine.

14. A supply package for stapling machines comprising a spool having a core and end flanges; a quantity of continuous staple-making wire wound on the spool; a two-part telescopic casing in which the spool is mounted, said casing having bearing surfaces engaged by the spool flanges to support said spool for rotation incident to withdrawal of the wire from the spool; means carried by said two-part casing for detachably securing the two parts thereof together; and a strip of metal secured to one part of the casing, and having laterally extending lugs adapted to engage portions of the stapling machine frame for supporting the package in operative position therein, said casing having a wire passage for the leading end of the wire.

15. A supply package for stapling machines comprising a spool having a core and end flanges; a quantity of continuous staple-making wire wound on the spool; a casing in which the spool is mounted, including laterally extending lugs adapted to engage the upper rear portions of the stapling machine frame for supporting the package in the frame in pendant operative position therein,- said casing having bearing surfaces engaged by the spool flanges to support the spool for rotation incident to withdrawal of the wire from the spool and having a wire passage for the leading end of the wire; and a depending portion of said casing covering and making inaccessible the leading end of the wire when the package is in operative position on the stapling machine frame.

16. A supply package for stapling machines comprising a spool having acore and end flanges; a quantity of continuous staple-making wire wound on the spool; a mounting for said spool comprising a two-part telescopic casing encircling the spool and having bearing surfaces engaged by said spool flanges to support the spool for rotation incident to withdrawal of the wire from the spool; and means carried by the casing adapted to engage the upper rear portion of the stapling machine frame for supporting the package in a pendant operative position in the frame, a wire passage 'being'formed in the casing between the sides of the spool-encircling means, said spool mounting means having a depending rigid tab adapted to engage the lower rear portion of the stapling machine to hold the casing and spool against substantial swinging movement.

1'7. A supply package for stapling machines comprising a spool having a core and lateral flanges; a quantity of continuous staple-making wire wound on the spool; a casing for said spool 1 comprising means encircling a spool and having bearing surfaces enga ed by said spool flanges to support the spool for rotation incident to withdrawal of the wire from the spool; means whereby said casing may be pendantly mounted in a frame of a stapling machine; and rigid means for opposing movement of the casing parallel to the line 01' pull exerted on the wire in withdrawing the same from the spool.

CHARLES I. TAGER. 

